Frequently Asked Questions

Once you have been approved to receive benefits and have completed a Request for Veterans Benefits in myWings, the Military and Veterans Resource Center will automatically access your class schedule and degree evaluation (program of study) each semester to verify that your coursework is required for your degree program to submit certification to Veterans Affairs. The auto-certification process will be completed each semester within 30 days after the end of Add/Drop.

If your file is complete prior to the beginning of the term, the UNF Military and Veterans Resource Center (MVRC) will certify within 30 days after the end of Add/Drop. After the start of term, paperwork will be processed by the MVRC within 30 days of notification of benefits or the request for certification.

Once the MVRC completes your paperwork, it is sent to the Regional Processing Office (RPO). The RPO generally takes 4-6 weeks to complete processing. Processing time at the RPO varies depending on the time of year. To check on your file once it has been forwarded to the RPO, call (888) 442-4551 (1-888-GI-BILL-1).

Only deferments for the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® are automatic. Veteran Readiness and Employment students will receive a deferment when they notify Student Financial Services they are using benefits, and it is verified that a Tungsten authorization is on file.

If your enrollment has already been certified by the UNF VA Certifying Official, you may request a 60 day deferment by the payment deadline. Please note: you may only have one 60 day deferment per academic year.

Terms of the deferment agreement:

• The full amount of fees assessed, even fees for withdrawal, reinstatement, and late fees from that academic term must be paid 60 days from the University's payment deadline. The Military and Veterans Resource Center sends a list of approved deferrals to Student Financial Services by the payment deadline.
• Student agrees to make the deferred payment on time (by the 60th day) regardless of the payment status of his or her VA Benefits. Visit the Student Financial Services site to view the VA Deferment deadline for each term.
• Student agrees for UNF to take appropriate actions, as determined by the administrative policy in the event that he or she fails to pay all fees due by the appropriate date.
• Student agrees to pay any costs or related expenses incurred in the collection of these fees.

Taking into account the date you submitted your application and certification request, as well as the end of Add/Drop for the term in question:

• Have you allowed for a reasonable amount of time (four to six weeks minimum in most cases) for the Regional Processing Office (RPO) to process your claim?
• Have you checked the status of your claim through WAVE (the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment)?
• Have you checked the status of your claim and the estimated enrollment certification processing time via the automated telephone information system at 1-888-GI-BILL-1?
• Did you make an electronic inquiry through the G.I. Bill® website, providing all necessary identification?

After you have completed the steps above, if problems persist please visit the Military and Veterans Resource Center. The staff will be happy to assist you in finding a resolution.

Monthly rates vary depending upon which Education Benefit you receive. Veterans Affairs provides rate tables on their website.

The monthly amount of your VA educational award may be prorated if necessary. For example, if the first term of your enrollment begins on the 15th of the month, the VA will divide your monthly rate by 30 (the number of days in a standard month). This will provide your daily rate. Your daily rate is then multiplied by the number of days you are attending class that month. This is the amount of your check for the first month of attendance.

Payment is made at the end of each month. For example, you will be paid in February for attendance during January, in March for attendance in February, in April for attendance in March and so on.

It is important for anyone receiving VA Education Benefits to be aware of hour requirements for each pay status, graduate or undergraduate. Undergraduate certification is described below.

** For training below 1⁄2 time Veterans Affairs will pay for tuition and fees only. This is not per month - it is total. In some cases, they may send a lump sum payment or they will send a portion of your tuition and fees for each month. This chart is not reflective of Post-9/11/Chapter 33 benefit pay. View Education Benefit Payment Rates on the Department of Veterans Affairs website. View Chapter 33 Rates.

A Special Note Concerning Split Sessions for Degree-Seeking Students

UNF offers split sessions referred to as "accelerated sessions" by Veterans Affairs (i.e. First Half of term or Summer Sessions B, C, 8 week term, and 10 week term). This means Veterans Affairs will accelerate pay status in proportion to the rate of the split sessions. A full-time course load will be different for students enrolled in the split sessions. For this reason, you should check with a VA Certifying Official to be sure of the actual rate of acceleration.

The following is an example of the hours necessary to be considered a full-time undergraduate student during the summer semesters:

The following is an example of the hours necessary to be considered a full-time graduate student during the fall semester:

The number of hours needed to be full-time for the school and financial aid purposes may differ from the VA hour requirement as well. Be sure to check with the financial aid office and the registrar's office on the credit-hour requirements for full-time. Graduate student's full time status may vary according to their assistantships.

Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard: Transcripts may be requested through the Joint Services Transcript website. Instructions for how to have official transcripts sent to post-secondary institutions through JST can be found on their website.

Air Force: Transcripts may be requested through the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF). Instructions for how to have official transcripts sent to post-secondary institutions through CCAF can be found on their website.

All students receiving VA Education Benefits must maintain certain standards of progress as detailed in the University of North Florida catalog. VA regulations allow students to attend school under a probationary status for two consecutive terms while they continue to receive educational benefits. However, benefits will be terminated following the second consecutive term of attendance under probationary status if the student's cumulative grade point average does not meet the university's published standards of progress.

Students using VA education benefits must meet with a School Certifying Official after reinstatement of a dismissal from unsatisfactory progress.

In compliance with Florida Statute 1004.075, degree-seeking veterans, active duty, and their dependent students are eligible for priority registration if registered with the Military & Veterans Resource Center. For more information on registration procedures please visit the Records and Registration website.

You may drop a course through the first week of classes, which is known as "Add/Drop". After this point and through the withdrawal deadline, you will only be permitted to withdraw from classes. By dropping a course, it will not show on your transcript and you will not be fee liable. By withdrawing from a course, you will be assigned a grade of "W" and will remain fee liable.

You may Drop and/or Withdraw via myWings or in person at One-Stop Student Services. Please check your student account prior to any drop or withdrawal attempt for holds that may prevent registration actions. It is your responsibility to address holds in a timely manner; overrides of the posted deadlines will not be granted if you fail to resolve the hold prior to the deadline. Please visit the Academic Calendar for Drop and Withdraw deadlines.

If you drop a class, withdraw from all classes, or are dropped by the instructor before that date, you are assigned a non-punitive grade. Remember, this means your GPA will not be penalized. However, Veterans Affairs treats a non-punitive grade as if you never attended that class. If the drop or withdrawal changes your enrollment status or hours, Veterans Affairs will require repayment of any amount you have received for attendance in that class unless you have mitigating circumstances. If Veterans Affairs has already paid tuition/fees to UNF, the University will bill you for the portion the VA asks the school to return due to a withdrawal. If you feel you have a valid reason for dropping the class or withdrawing from a class, you can write to Veterans Affairs and ask that you be allowed to maintain your prevailing rate of pay up to the last date of attendance in the course(s). The new rate of pay would be effective the day after your last date of attendance. For instructions on submitting a statement to VA, please call 1-888-GI-BILL-1.

If you claim mitigating circumstances, Veterans Affairs will require in-depth statements and supporting documentation before allowing payment for a course from which you dropped, withdrew, or were dropped by the instructor. Mitigating circumstances Veterans Affairs may accept include:

1. Illness or injury of the veteran
2. Death, illness, or serious injury of a family member
3. Relocation due to employment
4. Work schedule conflict
5. Hardships

If you have other reasons for dropping or withdrawing, you may also write to Veterans Affairs and provide them with the reasons.

If you withdraw from a course or withdraw from all courses after the last date to withdraw, you may be assigned a punitive grade. This grade will be calculated into your grade point average as an "F". Veterans Affairs will, in this case, allow payment at the prevailing rates of pay up to the last date of attendance as reported by the instructor. The new rate of pay will begin the day after the last date of attendance.

The University of North Florida catalog outlines all majors available at UNF and the required courses for graduation in each. All courses must be selected directly from the degree evaluation/program of study as it appears in the catalog in effect at the time of your enrollment into the university. You will be certified only for those courses required for your degree. For example, if you are enrolled in the Accounting program and register for Photography 101, you will not be paid for that course, as it is not required for graduation in the Accounting program.

You are required to meet with an Academic Advisor in your college to establish a Degree Evaluation specific to your program and transferred credits.

Military Tuition Assistance is a benefit paid to eligible members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Each service has its own criteria for eligibility, obligated service, application processes, and restrictions. This money is usually paid directly to the institution by the individual services.

Active duty service members who intend to use military Tuition Assistance (TA) should contact their Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor before registration to confirm the availability of tuition assistance funds.

For more information, contact your military branch for details on your eligibility and the branch's process for submitting the tuition assistance forms.

• Air Force
• Army
• Coast Guard
• Marines
• National Guard
• Navy

Students seeking to use tuition assistance should:

• Request a tuition assistance voucher from their respective branch of service, and
• Visit their Education Services Officer or Education Counselor.

Each branch handles tuition assistance differently. Some branches will send tuition assistance vouchers electronically while some require the student to submit a hard copy to their school. Please visit Student Financial Services to submit your voucher or confirm processing.

Students cannot use Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® benefits and DoD tuition assistance during the same term.

Please note: Education Dollars for Duty (EDD) is also processed through Student Financial Services.

Visit UNF's College Navigator site. These figures are projected estimates based on current tuition/fee rates. Total program cost may be estimated by multiplying the annual cost estimate by the number of years in the academic program. Actual total program cost is subject to change based on a number of factors such as tuition/fee rates set by the Florida legislature, Florida Board of Governors or UNF Board of Trustees and future aid eligibility. Because UNF cannot account for every unforeseen variable that may affect total program cost, an individual’s actual total program cost may be lower or higher. UNF will keep the total program costs estimates up-to-date based on the most recent information available.

Estimated Chapter 33 Tuition & Fees Entitlement Based on Eligibility Tiers

Estimated Chapter 33 MHA Entitlement, based on 100% Eligibility